HIGHLANDERS head coach Kelvin Kaindu says former How Mine striker Simba Sithole, who had his contract terminated by Absa Premier Soccer League (PSL) side Ajax Cape Town, is welcome to try his luck at the Bulawayo giants. FORTUNE MBELE/ TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA
Sithole’s two-year deal with the Absa PSL pacesetters collapsed hardly eight months after joining them in January and is reportedly on his way back home and eyeing a move to Bosso, although How Mine insist they want him back.
In a recent interview, Kaindu said Sithole was welcome to show what he had got and would be assessed by the Bulawayo giants’ technical team.
“If a player is local and has shown that the only team that he is interested to play for is Highlanders, we will probably welcome him and see what he has got. He might give us another dimension,” Kaindu said.
About a fortnight ago, Sithole, who impressed Ajax during the Orange African Nations Championships (Chan) tournament in South Africa in January, confirmed to media in that country that he had been released by his club.
“My contract has been terminated and I am now on the hunt for another club,” said Sithole. How Mine, who had a bright start to the 2014 campaign, now find themselves placed on 12th position on the 16-team league table with 24 points.
They have won six matches, drawn six and lost nine and could find themselves fighting against the dark forces of relegation if they slip up.
Aware of the need to bolster their attack, How Mine chairman Mlondolozi Nkomo revealed yesterday they had stepped up efforts to lure Sithole back from South Africa after he was released by Ajax Cape Town.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Nkomo said they had already written to the PSL seeking guidance on what they needed to do to register the player with their club.
“We are pushing to register him. We have already written to PSL seeking guidance on what we need to register him. They have responded and we are working on that.
But the problem we have is that the player is not coming out in the open whether he wants to come back,” he said.
“It appears he still has hopes to secure another club in South Africa, but we are determined to have him back here.”
How Mine has seen goals dry up for Kuda Musharu. They have hired Luke Masomere, a title winner with AmaZulu in 2003 who will be unveiled today.
Bosso strikers Ozias Zibande and Knox Mutizwa have struggled of late with goals coming from leading Castle Lager PSL scorer Charles Sibanda, who is not an out-and-out striker.
Pasca Manhanga, who came in mid-season from Triangle, is not a natural striker either.
Striker Gabriel Nyoni and attacking midfielder Rahman Kutsanzira have been struggling with persistent injuries while Njabulo Ncube who returned from FC Platinum in mid-season, is yet to find the net.
Also roped in during the mid-season is striker Kudzanai Machazane acquired from Zifa Southern region Division One side Tsholotsho FC, but the young forward is yet to find his feet together with two others from the junior ranks Mgcini Sibanda and Godfrey Makaruse.
Bosso recently lost Cleopas Dube who is in South Africa with National First Division side Witbank Spurs.
The Bulawayo giants have nine senior midfielders in Simon Munawa, Hillary Madzivanyika, Joel Ngodzo, Welcome Ndiweni, Valentine Ndaba, Felix Chindungwe, Kutsanzira, Manhanga and Sibanda.
Of Bosso’s 31 goals in the league, Sibanda has scored 12.
Sithole, who left How Mine after having scored six goals, could definitely add a new dimension to the Highlanders strike-force. He is not a skilful player, but a lethal striker.
He joins Rodreck Mutuma who was offloaded by South African Bloemfontein Celtic in April before rejoining Dynamos.
Other players, who have had no luck with the Absa PSL are Dynamos’ Tafadzwa Rusike (Ajax), Simba Sithole — shown the door by SuperSport and Oscar Machapa — deemed excess baggage by Moroka Swallows.
Highlanders’ Peter “Rio” Moyo was also dumped by Mpumalanga Black Aces without kicking a ball for AmaZayoni after he signed with the club at the end of May with coach Clive Barker reportedly saying the Warriors midfielder was not in his plans.
